Police say the man reached for a four-foot sword in his car. Counterterrorism officers are investigating after three police officers were injured.

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The incident came after the man deliberately drove a car at a police van and stopped in front of it in a restricted area on Constitution Hill near Buckingham Palace, police said.

Officers approached after the man stopped his car just after 8:30 p.m. local time Friday in a "restricted area" on the Mall roundabout outside Buckingham Palace, the Queen's official residence and a major London tourist attraction.

The officers, who were unarmed police constables, got out of the van and approached the car, a blue Toyota Prius, police said.

They spotted a "large bladed weapon" in his car and went to arrest him, at which point two male police officers suffered minor injuries to their arms.

The 26-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assault on police. He has now also been arrested under the Terrorism Act, police said.

Officers are on scene at the Mall o/s Buckingham Palace. A man has been arrested on suspicion of GBH and assault on police